Manchester United's Bid for Malick Thiaw Disrupted by Liverpool

Manchester United’s bid to sign the robust defender Malick Thiaw from Newcastle United is believed to face opposition from Liverpool. United and Liverpool are both said to be keen on acquiring Thiaw from Newcastle in the 2026 summer transfer window. Manchester United are currently grappling with a defensive crisis due to the injuries of Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt. Moreover, two young defenders, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, have yet to shine, leaving United reliant on Harry Maguire. Meanwhile, Liverpool are set to face defensive issues after Ibrahima Konaté has yet to sign a new contract. Separately, Liverpool are also short of options at the back after Giovanni Leoni sustained a knee injury that is expected to hinder his development. According to Fussball Daten, these conditions could drive United and Liverpool to pursue Thiaw. Thiaw has been impressive since moving to Newcastle from AC Milan in the 2026 summer window, turning out 39 appearances and scoring five goals in all competitions. However, United and Liverpool would need to splash substantial sums if they want to sign Thiaw in the forthcoming 2026 summer window. Furthermore, Thiaw is viewed as a potential new leader in Newcastle United’s defence, so his consistent performances would no doubt attract a big club. The progression of Thiaw’s career, moving from Serie A to the Premier League, is also seen as a major step forward for his career. Given that Newcastle United are pursuing a new project with Thiaw as a key player, Liverpool and United are believed to face difficulties in completing the transfer. Nevertheless, with substantial transfer budgets and robust finances, Liverpool and Manchester United are not expected to have difficulty negotiating to sign Malick Thiaw from Newcastle United.